Life Lion Critical Care Transport - Non-injury incident

Date: 10/13/07 07:15 EST

Program: Life Lion Critical Care Transport
	Penn State Milton S. Herhsey Medical Center, Penn State College of
	Medicine, Life Lion HS88, 500 University Drive, P.O. Box 850, Hershey
	PA 17033

Type: 365N3
Tail #: N600LL
Operator/Vendor: None

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: Pilot, Flight Nurse, Flight Paramedic. No injuries reported. Patient on board. 

Description: 
	Returning from scene flight 5 minutes to the south of Hershey Medical
	Center, medical crew requested heat for patient, pilot moved heat
	selector forward and heard the usual rushing noise. About two minutes
	out from the hospital ED helipad the noise became more pronounced with
	a high pitch, the noise suddenly changed pitch and debrie began to
	enter the cockpit consisting of what look liked paint chips. The
	heater was immedicately secured and the problem resolved. Patient was
	delivered without incident to Hershey Medical Center and the aircraft
	was repositioned to the Life Lion hanger located on Life Lion Drive.

Additional Info: 
	Post flight inspection reveled that the aft heater duct (co-pilot
	side) had failed blowing some of the internal lining inside out
	causing a restriction. When the material gave way it littered the
	cockpit with rubber impregnated material and fiberglass insulation
	that lines the duct. Pilot reports lesson learned, he had his clear
	shield down during flight which prevented debrie from being blown into
	his eyes

Source: Gregory J. Rupert, RN, BSN, CFRN Life Lion Manager Air Medic

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programs when an accident / incident has occurred. Please share the above
information with your program staff. If you have further questions, please
contact the CONCERN Coordinator, David Kearns at 800 525 3712 or email:
coordinator@concern-network.org.

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